'Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?' Shana Parver said.
'That son of a bitch is turning this into a freak show,' said Vail, and he charged into the room followed by Parver and Stenner.
In the back of the crowded room, Jane Venable eased her way into the crowd of newshounds. She watched the scene with disgust, then saw Vail charge the crowd and grab Shock Johnson by the arm. 'What the hell's he doing?' Vail demanded.
'I got nothing to do with this circus,' Johnson said. It was obvious he was disgusted. 'She's a nice little lady, Marty. We were giving her Miranda. She interrupted and says, 'I killed him. I killed him.' '
'You sure this confession is legit, Shock?'
'She said she went in and he was taking a shower. She was standing in the entrance hall and he walked in naked and poured a drink. He saw her. When he saw the gun he put his drink down and she whacked him. Then went over and gave him the clincher.'
'What else did she tell you?'
'That's it. What I just told you is it. Marty, she's fifty-three. Got retired out early. Today was her last day. Has a crippled husband, a daughter in college, and Delaney dumped her for a thirty-year-old blonde bombshell. She bought a .38 three weeks ago, spent two weeks on a shooting range learning how to use it. She was standing right where Okie said she was when she popped him. And she flat-out confessed right after we Miranda'd her. What the hell more do you want?'
'Do you know what any good criminal attorney'll do with this? Displaying her like this, questioning her without an attorney present? We won't have a damn case left!'
Vail pushed his way to Eckling's side. 'Stop this right now,' he snarled in Eckling's ear. 'You're jeopardizing this case with this stupid stunt.'
'Goddamn it…' Eckling whispered back, but before he could go any further, Vail took Edith Stoddard gently by the arm and led her back into a sealed-off holding area with the press screaming questions at her as he led her away. The door shut out the sound.
'Oh,' she said, and closed her eyes.
Outside, as the press began to disperse, Venable headed towards the processing area. I
Four years ago. Venable had settled an injury case for Delaney Enterprises. Edith Stoddard had been Delaney's private secretary. Venable remembered that she had felt very sorry for the woman. Her husband was a quadriplegic and she had a very bright daughter about to enter college. She had seemed weighed down by her world, almost self-effacing. It was in her face then, and it was worse now.
Venable could sense Stoddard's humiliation and fear.
Inside the quiet area, Vail said, 'I'm sorry, Mrs Stoddard, that was uncalled for.'
She stared up at him and the fear in her eyes was slowly replaced by stoicism.
'You're the new district attorney,' she said.
'Yes. And this is Shana Parver, one of my associates. I want Shana to explain your rights to you.'
'They read me my rights.'
'Yes, but I think you should understand what all this means.'
Eckling burst into the room. 'What the hell do you think you're -'
Vail grabbed his arm and shoved him into an empty interrogation room, slamming the door behind them.
'Listen to me, Eckling, this is not some dipshit drug bust, this woman's going to end up with the best pro bono attorney the judge can find and
'She confessed, fer Chrissakes!'
'So what? Does the name Menendez mean anything to you? If those brothers can walk, this woman can ride out of here on a golden chariot - and you're gonna be pulling it.' Vail speared the air with his finger. 'This woman is innocent until a jury says she's guilty or until a judge accepts her plea. That's if she doesn't change her mind, which she probably will the minute a good lawyer grabs her ear.' He started to leave and then whirled back on the chief. 'By the way, this isn't the chief prosecutor talking anymore, Eckling, it's the DA. Get your head out of your ass.'
Vail left the room. Shana Parver walked over to him as two guards led Mrs Stoddard off to be fingerprinted and processed.
